Tractor mounted reciprocating mower



N0V- 20, 1951 w. E. THORNTON-TRUMP 2,575,369

TRACTOR MOUNTED RECIPROCATING MOWER med Dec. 29. 1948 2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 W. E. THORNTON-TRUMP TRACTOR MOUNTED RECIPROCATING MOWER Nov. 20, 1951 Filed Dec. 29, 1948 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 oww ob Nw Patented Nov. 20,1951

TRACTOR MOUNTED RECIPROCATING MOWER Walter E. Thornton-Trump, Oliver, British Columbia, Canada Application December 29, 1948, Serial No. l67,799 A Y claims. (ci. tti- 25) This invention relates to a novel mower adapted to function as an attachment for a conventional tractor and to be driven by the power take-olf shaft thereof to enable the sickle knife of the cutter bar to be reciprocated at any desired speed irrespective of the speed of movement of the tractor.

l, Conventional mowers which are usually supported behind or at a side of a tractor or other prime mover have proven very unsatisfactory for mowing in orchards because of their lack of maneuverability. the poor visibility afforded the operator. the necessity for the operator to dodge branches, diillculty of attachment and because the over-all implement is too wide for such work andthe wheels of the prime mover usually trample the grass or other growth before it is mowed. Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a mower of a radically diierent type and mounting which will overcome all of the aforementioned disadvanf tages and which particularly adapts itself for use in mowing grass and other growths in orchards and by means of which it is possible to cut close to tree trunks and to swing around tree trunks so that the growth between trees of a row can be readily out.

Another object of the invention is to provide a. mower which will cut in advance of the tractor or other prime mover so that the grass or other vegetation will be cut ahead of therwheels of the tractor.

Another object of the invention is to provide an attachment which is so constructed that when the sickle knife and cutter bar are disposed for cutting beneath the branches of a row of trees and between the tree trunks', the tractor or prime mover will be positioned between adjacent rows of trees and substantially equally spaced from such rows so that the operator will not be required to dodge the tree branches.

l A further object of the invention is to provide a mower having a swivelly supported cutter bar which will readily ride the contours of the ground regardless of the position of the prime mover or tractor and which is equipped with a safety trip mechanism to release the cutter bar to permit one yend thereof to swing inwardly and rearwardly toward the tractor in the event that the cutter bar strikes a tree trunk or other obstruction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mower having adjustable cutter bar supporting shoes for supporting the cutter bar and which will ride over rough ground and ditches without permitting the cutting teeth to cut through dirt.

2 A further object of the invention is to provide a mower capable of being elevated to substantially a horizontal position g and at a suicient level above the ground so that the mower can be readily transported at a level where it will not execute a cutting operation and yet be disposed substantially below the level of tree branches.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent irom the iollowing description oi tiie drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein: i

, Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the mower attached to ar conventional tractor and driven by the power take-olf snait thereoi; I Figure 2 isa top plan View of the mower in an operative position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional View taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 3 3 of Figure 2; f Figure 4 is a cross sectional View taken subv stantially along a plane as indicated by the .une

Figure b isa fragmentary top plan View showing the safety trip mechanism released. Y

Relerring more specifically to the drawngsLthe numeral 6 designates generally a conventional tractor the iront steering wheels of which are supported on an arch-shaped front axle and which tractor is provided with a rearwardly ex tending power take-oli shalt l.

The orchard mower, designated generally 8 which is adapted for mounting as an attachment on the tractor E includes a box or block formed` of sections :i which are clamped by fastenmgs lo to a portion of the` rear axle housing of the tractor. 6 adjacent one oi' its rear wheels. The intermedlateor bght portion of a hanger bracket I I,H as best illustrated in Figure is disposed against the underside of the bottom box section 9 and is secured thereto by the fastenings Iii and is pro-I vided with depending laterally spaced arms I2 and I3 having correspondinginternal enlargements between which is disposed one end of an elongated beam I4 which is pivotally mounted on'- the tractor 6 by a pivot pin I5 which extends therethrough and through said arms I2 and I3 including the enlargements thereof. The beam- I4 which is preferably of hollow rectangular shape in cross section extends forwardly from the rear axle housing to beyond the forward end oi the.A

most with respect to the longitudinal center of the tractor 6, is provided on the side thereof remote to the hanger arm I3 with an elongated bearing I1 which extends longitudinally of the tractor 6 and in which is journaled a countershaft I8 having a pulley I9 secured to its rear end and rearwardly of the bearing I'I.. A pulley 2D is secured to the power take-off shaft l Vand said pulleys I9 and 20 are each provided with a pair of V-grooves for receiving a pair of endless belts 2I of V-shaped cross section by which the countershaft I 8 is driven by thepower take-oil shaft 'I.

An angle bracket 22 is secured by detachable fastenings 23 to a side of the tractor "Gad'jacent;

its forward end and projects laterally therefrom over a portion of the beam I4; A pair'of later'- ally spaced vertically disposed bars 24 o f angle iron are secured to the bracket 22 and said bars1v 2 4 extend upwardly and downwardlyftherefrom and the lower portions thereofprovidejaguide which the beam`r I4 is verticallyswingable and prevents lateral Yn iovernent of said beam relatively tothe tractor 6. 'Apulley 25`-is journailed* between Vthe bars 24A` above vthebracliet 22 arid'over whichis trained a cablejor flexible diierential of the tractor 6.'J iimanually or4 otherwisefcactuated/ lever -3I,-'only aportion of which is illustrated inthe 'drawings; is xed tov the opposite end of theshaft l291and-extends upwardly and forwardly therefrom --and Ais conveiiien'tly" positioned toY be f actuatedl by :the op erator of the tractor 6 for turningff'theshaft 29 and `lever 28-y in'a'olockwise direction, as'seen in Figure l, for exertinga -pull on-thelastmentionedlrear endof `the cable for iaising'fthe beam 'I4 from its full line to-itsjdct'tedline'posi-V tion of Figure l. f` Obviously; suitable Vvlatch means, not shownfma-y be'proVided-for the lever- 3 I Afor retaining said lever, vthe shaft=29 v'andflever 28 in various positions'tolwhich--saidparts are movable. i

A `bracket 32 is fastenedtoa -portionfof-one of the Yuprights 2 4 to provide a: Vguide lforf slidably receivinga rod 33 which is pivotall'y-connected at'eitsvlower end to the -lbeam 14: `A=spring33a bears on theguide 32 and is disposed onthe upper part ofthe rod 33 and seats with its upper.

end against an adjustablestop v34 .on the upper part of the rod .33, by which the upwardrpull exerted on the beam I4 by the expansion spring 33a through the rod 33 can be varied.,

T he forward end Aof the beam .I4 has a bar 35.vv

secured to each of its upper and lower edges and said bars 35,project forwardly therefrom andare bentupwardly slightlyso that when the beam I4 ls in its normal lowered position, as Yi111,istrated in full lines f Figure# the barswillbe die: POSE@v` 51.1105teni/hillyL Plallel Q. the gljlmdr. as indicated at 36 in Figure V1. A cutter mounting plate 3'1 is provided with a. laterally enlarged foi'vard end whichis securedby fastnings 38 tothe rear edge portion f'acutter bar'SSfof a cnvenuonai type reciprocating cutter tu 'The mounting plate 3T, adjacent itsfre'agriendjis la'terally'enlarged and provided with 'a longitudinal- 4 ly extending bearing 4I in which is journaled a' pin 42 which projects transversely from the lower portion of a sleeve 43. The sleeve 43 is disposed between the bars 35 and swivelly connected thereto by a pin 44 which extends longitudinally through said sleeve and through openings in the Vforward end portions of the bars 35 whereby the reciprocating cutter 4 0. is'y SuppQrted -by the mounting plate 31 on the beam I4 for oscillating motion in a vertical plane relatively to the beam I`4' on the pin 42 and for oscillating motion in a horizontal plane relatively to said beam on the pin 44.

The mounting plate 3l has on its upper side a longitudinally extending bearing 45 in which is journaled a shaft 46 having a crank or eccentric 4l orbits forward end which loosely engages between lugs 48 on the rear end of a lever 49 whichis swingably mounted on the plate 3l intermediate of its ends by a pin 53 for swinging movement in' a plane substantially parallelfto the platel 3l and cutter 4l); "The forward endV of the'lever 53 is pivotally connected-to the re? ciprocating vsickle knife 5I'oi the cutter lill The lever 43 and shaft 45 provide` a conventional means for converting a rotarymotion int'af reciprocating motion and it will be readily api parent that'when tl'iesl'laft 4S isevolved the lever 43 will be oscillated for reciprocating the" sickle knife 5I backandiorth longitudinally on' the cutter bar 39 in a conventional`inar'ii1er.' "Obi viously, other means' may beiutilizedfor'coii verting a rotary motion ofi the shaft '46 :into 'the reciprocating y motionof" the sickleknife l5'I The rear Vend of the shaft 46' is coiihectedto the forward end of -a driv'eshaft 52byfa'universal joint 53. The drive'shaftfSZextendsrearw'ardly" from'the universal joint 53 along one-sidefthej beam I4 and is connected at 'its rarend-by' universal joint `54'to theforwardV endbf theV` countershaft I8. The driv'e shaft`5 2is provided with splined telescopingise'ctions as seen atlltiH permit the mounting plate -3I andV cutter "4 0'ft swing from its'norrn'alv position of 'Figure 2' to and" beyond its ,position offFigre'' and also-to allow" for the change in 'lengthof thedrivef as the cutterbar is elevated.

The reciprocating'- vcutter' 4c is normally supported by two onmore'relatively long sli'taesfflilil and twoor more relativelyshortfshes'51#which are fastened to the underside Aofthe cutter bar 831 adjacent its rear edge en pivots 58A as'fseen fin Figure 1 The snoesf'q 'andSfI'exte 1 i`c l'rearwar'dly4 from the cutter bar BSfQandQare longitudinallyf bcwed in ja. dow-nware 'direction'. A 'piatefse isf associated' with each 'sho' e 5B@ and'lf and-isi fastened to the Cutterbar 39 and 'p' rojects lrearfi wardly therefrom; A "bolt'j 60 is jpivoted to "and extends upwardly from each shoe j and 51 reciprocally through" anj opening in the vplate 59 disposed above shoe' andlcaifrieslanfex pansioiicoiledspr ngl which bears 4 ahsttlie shoe and ,plate ,for `j1`1rgfiiigf-thejsh-oe f d o'wriw'airdlyit reiaway 'tov 'the plate; Thejfppeencsgor he; bolts 60 'are threaded feac'hjto ljrcfeivel a` `nf1iti52, which is adjustable i thereon and"y 'eng aeil'thfA upper Vside o'f the associated plateillforliin i the'e'xtent that theshoesf SBQandSI caribe b1 Y. downwardly lby the springs B'I 'The' shoes` 56`Iand '-51 are each adapted jmcqntaengtne ground* 36',"

. in Figure l 'and for aidditiblfal'ly'A Supporting 4vth" atrasos;

clined position. The spring 33a additionally yieldably supporting saidparts to cutv spaced points rearwardly of the cutter 46, ,for

a purpose which will hereinafter, become apparent. The mower 8 is provided with a safety trip mechanism including a bar 63 which is suitably secured to or formed integral with the plate 31 and which extends rearwardly therefrom f along the inner side of the beam I4. .As best seen in Figure 4, a bracket 64 is fastened to andv projects downwardly and outwardly from the opposite, outer side of the bear I4. lA latch bar 65 is pivotally onected at one end thereof to the lower end of the bracket 64 and extends transversely beneath the beam I4 and is provided adjacent its free end with an upwardly opening notch 66 to normally receive a portion of the bar 63. As seen in Figure 4, the outer side of thev notch 66 and the outer side of the lower edge portion of the bar 63 are inclined outwardly and upwardly to form inter-engaging cam surfaces so that when a force is exerted on the bar 63 tending to cause it to move laterally away from `the bear I4, as seen in Figure 4, said bar will normally tend to displace the free end of the latch bar 65'downwardly to disengage lthe latch bar from the. bar 63. A rod 61 is pivotally connected to the intermediate portion of the latch bar 65 and extends upwardly therefrom reciprocally thr`ough the beam I4 and has an adjustably disposed nut and washer unit 68 on its upper end portion forming a stop for an expansion coiled spring 69 which is mounted on the upper portion of the rod 61 and the lower end of which bears on the upper side of the beam.v I4 for urging the latch bar 65 to. normally swing upwardly and for retaiinng the notch 66 thereof inengagement with the bar- 63 when the plate 31 and cutter 46 oscillate on the pin 42 in passing over irregular or uneven ground and so that the trip mechanismA as illustrated in Figure 4 will not be thereby released to permit the cutter 40 to swing from its position of Figure 2 tol and beyond its position of Figure 5. Stop 68 is adjustable to vary the tension of spring 69.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the mower 8 in its dotted line position of.V

Figure 1 can be conveniently transported at a suicient level Vabove the ground so that the vegetation will not be cut thereby should the power take-olf shaft be driven and yet can be disposed at a suiciently low level so that it will not strike overhanging tree branches or the like'. As seen in Figure 2, one end of the cutter 40 is disposed directly in front of its prime mover or tractor 6 whereas the opposite end of said cutter extends laterally to substantially beyond one side of the tractor 6. Accordingly, with the mower 8 in its loperative position of Figure 1, the tractor 6 may be driven through an orchard, not shown, between parallel rows of trees and with the tractor disposed substantially intermediate of the tree rows so that the tractor and tractor operator will not be engaged by the tree branches. When the mower is thus operated, one end of the reciprocating cutter 46 will mow the grass or vegetation directly in front of the tractor 6.whi'lz the yopposite end ofthe cutter 46 will extend-- laterally to the right, looking from rear to front of the tractor for mowingthe vegetation beneath one row of the trees and between the tree trunks.

With the mower 8 disposed with its cuttei1 46 in advance of the tractor 6, a very slight turning movement of .the steering wheel of the tractor is sufficient to displace the laterally offset end of the cutter 46 transversely of the normal direc-v tiony of travel of the mower for guiding said end around tree trunks. With the mower thus positioned, it is possible for the laterally offset end thereof to cut directly up to a corner after which the `tractor can be backed oif thus enabling the mower 8 to cut in inaccessible places ordinarily missed by conventional mowers so that the mower 8 provides for a much greater maneuverabiilty than is possible with the usual mower and is furthermore capable of moving through any opening or along any strip of a width as great as the Width of the cutter 46.

The swivel joint 4I, 42 between the supporting beam I4 and the cutter 46 permits the latter to oscillate relatively to the beam to follow the contour of the ground over which the cutter is moving regardless of the position of the tractor wheels.

cutting operation.

will readily ride over ditches, furrows or humps and with lthe shoes of diiferent lengths bridging.

ditches to prevent the cutter bar and sickle knife teeth from digging into and cutting through dirt.

The uprights 24-provide braces to absorb any lateral thrust on the beam I4 and for guiding the beam in its vertical movement. In the event that the laterally offset end of the cutter 46 should.,

strike a tree trunk or other obstruction, the torque thereby exerted thereon will cause the cutter 46 and plate 31 to swing horizontally in a.

clockwise direction as seen in Figures Zand 5 onv its pivot 44 for camming the trip bar 63 out of en-v gagement with the notch 66 of the latch bar to permit the cutter to swing relatively to ther tractor 6 to thereby prevent damage thereto.

The beam I4 is provided with inwardly extendl end of the cutter will not drag along the ground.v

The speed at which the cutter 46 is driven is not dependent upon the speed of translational movement of the tractor 6 so that the cutter can be driven at a relatively fast speed relatively to the speed of movement of the tractor by driving the tractor in rst or second gears.

Various vmodifications and changes are con-- templated and may obviously be resorted to, Without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter dened by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A mower adapted to be demountably supported on a vehicle and actuated by a power take-off shaft of a prime mover thereof, said mower including a beam extending longitudinally of the vehicle and pivotally supported at its rear end adjacent the rearend of the vehicle for vertical swinging movement, a reciprocating cutter supported by `the forward end of the beam and Nuts 62 on the bolts 66 are adjustable for raising or lowering the cutter 46 relatively tol the ground level for varying the height of the; The long and short shoesY 56 and 51 provide a support for the cutter which.

7 inni-nelly:v disposed; transverselyy thereof( in"V advance of-l the vehicle, driving:` means adapted-E tothe. drivenby thepower take-Differ driving". thea-*sickle` knife. of the. reciprocating .cutter, and" ground -1 engagingV shoes yieldably mounted be? neath the reciprocatingcutter foriyieldably sup-.-

portingvsaid cutter insubstantiallya horizontal.- plane: and :at a: predetermined. leveLabove-.the

ground, said groundengagingshoesfbeingzpivote ally. connected vattlieir forward ends to theicutteri' in ilongtuclinally` .spaced relationship .to one ariother; and `.extending rearwardly therefrom, each:

offsaicli shoes. being.:longitudinally and downwardlyrbowed. andisaid groundengaging shoes including.; alternate shoes. of4 different. lengths: having` portionstforeengagingthe ground disposed dier.-

ent :distances .behindthe reciprocating cutter.

mower; adaptedito.. be .ldemountably sup-- portedzonfawehicle and actuated by` a power: takeeolshaftgof a prime mover thereof, said: moweieincludinga .beam extending longitudinally-.f of the vehicle and pivotally suppcrtedat itsrear embadjacent the rear .endofthe .vehicle forevertioalsswinging movements` reciprocating cutter supported'by the forward. end of thejoeamA and;

normally, disposed transversely thereof andin.

advance ofthe ,vehiclai driving means. adapted to intermediate. of. its. ends `on the beam .andfhavins oneend disposed directly in front `of v the .vehicle and an opposite end extending laterally toeone side ofthe vehicle.

8.1..A mower-adapted to bedemountably supportedlon a. vehicle and actuated byarpower; takeoffz.shaftof aprirne mover thereof, said.; mower including a beamextending longitudinallyt of the vehicle and pivotally. supported at. itsrearA end adjacent. theeieanend of the.. vehicle .forver-itical swinging` movement, a,.reciprocating1v cutter befdriven'by the Vpower talle-ori shaft for-driving thefsickle z knife of the reciprocatingcutter, and

ground' .engaging shoes yeldably mountedbee neath; `the reciprocating cutter for yieltiaolyvsuprporting.; said cutter in substantially a horizontal plane andy at a predetermined level.. abovepthe ground, and connecting means between the recipe--` rocatinggcutter and beam includinga swivel joint top erznit said cutter to oscillate-verticallyyrelatively to thebeam and a second swivel jointdisf.- posed ata right angle to the rstmentioned -60` stantially a, horizontal plane relativelyV to the.l

swivel joint to permit the cutterto swing in subbeam.

4.v A mower adaptedto loedernountablysun,-

'45 supported; by, the forward 1 end of the :beam and normallydisposed. transversely thereof andin; advance of" the Yvehicle.` driving means adapted: to;

8i ported.; on a". vehicle and: actuated; by.' aI Kmzlwel'f takeqoff shaft of a prime.moverr thereof. .sadx mower, includinga beamextending` longitudinally.y of .'thevehiclefand Lpivotally' supportedat its rear 1 ends-adjacent .tharearendof the-:Vehicle forfvere' tical .swinging movementga reciprocating` cutter;` supported by thei forward '..end .of the: beam and.; normally disposed; transverselythereofi andi advance of the vehicle; driving means adaptedito .1 be .drivenibygthe powertake-.oisf shaft 4for drivingc the :sickle .knife of the; reciprocating" cutter,; and i ground: engaging-.p shoes:V yieldably. inounted-:-V bee neath theireciprocating cutter.forzyieldablgn supporting said.. cutter in substantially. a: horizontal` planesand at a;.predetermined level .above the4 ground; connecting `means between .the lrecipro eating cutter. andtbeam zincludingfer swivel joint'. to': permitsaid;cutter1to oscillate.= vertically relatively.;- to the; beam Yand .a second.l swivel Vjoint disposed.

ata right angle to.theifirstmentioned-swivels j ointtov permit '..the cutter 1 to. swing. in. substane tially'sa..v horizontal plana relatively tothe beam, and. ahtrip mechanism fornormally latchingathe? cutter toprevent horizontal swinging" movement. thereof. on the .last mentioned swivel jointasaid.; trip. mechanism .including cam;zporticns.to. be: cammed kout .oflatchingiengagementf'by a toresional force exertedinone .directionzon the .cutter.A

5. A mower adapted taz-be.demountably`4 supe; ported onvr a vehicle andactuated.by a powerA takeeoi shaftv of a. prime. mover.: thereof, .said f' mower including a beam'v extending longitudinallyf of the-:vehicle and .pivotallysupported .at tits Lrear.l endv adjacent the:rear.,;end of2the vehicleor veri tical. swinging. movement; a .reciprocating `cutter supportedby the: forward endsof the 4beam .and normallyrdispose transversely` thereof. and in advanceof the vel'iicle,A driving. means adapted: to;.z bedriven by .the :power :take-ofshaft for. driving, the1sicklefknifefof the reciprocating cutter;. and: ground engagingnshoes yieldably mountedi` be neath thereciprocating .cutter-for yieldably supporting .'said.; c-utter in substantially-fa horizontal. plane and at a .1. predetermined level above. the ground;l saidbeam being disposed adjacent f one 's side :of fthevehi'cle,` andzsaid reciprocating cutter being connected.' intermediate of.; its: ends .tor the beam.

WALTER,- E. .THORNTON-TRUME.

REF-ERENGES CITED 'I'l'ie'-ffollowirig` references are Vof'. record in the file of 'this patent:

UNITEDy STATES "PATENTS Number Name Date 957,660 Delano May 10,1910; 1,109,916 Friday- Sept.,81914.Y 17,202,084-v Merkel Oct. 24, 1916 .I 1,559,429-,A Hirai Oct. 27, 1925,.- 2,120,671 Jensen et al June 14, 1938'. 2,263,886. Munro .Nov. 25,1941.. 

